Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-09-17
Kansas state historical soc,.tv.

Few Kansans realize how invaluable for
all the purposes of its organization is our
State Historical society. one of the most i'm
portant and useful institutions in the state.
This society, as its name implies, is
the custodian and conservator of the
newspaper published In this state from
its Organization, and prior to that Pc
Rod, to its earliest territorial days,
may be found on file in its rooms. From
the Rev. Mr.. Meeker's Herald of Freedom,
published, if we rem ember correctly, near
Lawrence, in 1854, down to the journals of
to day, copy of each is there carefully
preserved, thus making continuous and
unbroken history of the state to date. A
copy of every book written by Kansans may
be found on its shelves, so of every foreign
newspaper and pamphlet, of all the address
es and speeches embodying matters pertain
ing to Kansas affairs are there compiled and
stored away. A copy of each annual agri-
cultural report, which, by the way, are the
fullest, completest and most accurate re-
ports of the kind prepared by any
state in the union, are there pre-
served. Copies of the proceedings of
yention, record of The minutes of
every important public gathering ever held
in Kansas are kept there. The walls of its
Office are adorned with portraits of all the
governors of Kansas, of John Brown and
other historic characters, and of the various
territorial and state legislatures Glass
cases arranged around the rooms contain
Kansas relics of all sorts, and such relics as
are too large for these cases are piled about
the rooms in convenient places. In short,
everything of an historic character has been
gathered up and consigned to its proper
place in the archives of the society.
Taken as whole, the rooms of the Kan
sas State Historical society are veritable
museum, curiosity shop, a collection of
everything of interest connected with Kan
sas, arranged chronologically and geograph-
ically, classified and slowed away by Major
F. G. Adams, the efficient secretary of the
society, all ready to hand, for any emer-
gency that may arise.
The value of our State Historical society,
aside from its general purpose, as the custo-
dian of Kansas history, as an aid in litiga-
ton can hardly be overestimated. A promi-
nent attorney of this city, few years ago,
compelled to establish certain date and
fact vital to his client. He searched high
and low, far and near, without avail. At last
it occurred to him that possibly he might at
least get clue from the State Historical
society. He went to Topeka, saw Major
Adams, and that gentleman, with character
istic promptness, handed him a book con-
tanning the very date and fact he needed.
More recently, in an important suit in this
city, it was necessary to prove a notice of
roadway condemnation. The files of The
Champion containing this notice, published
nearly twenty years ago, had been destroyed
by fire. The case was postponed to enable
the attorney to consult the files in posses
sion of the State Historical society; and so
many similar instances demonstrating its
value for this single purpose might be cited.
The men who organized this society
builded better than they knew. Their eff
forts to maintain it through all these years
have already been amply rewarded in the
practical as we'll as sentimental benefit it
has conferred upon the citizens of Kansas,
and the appropriations made by the legisla-
ture for its support have been among the
best investments the state has ever made.
Its utility will be more highly appreciated
from year to year, and long after its pro-
iectors and present patrons have passed
from the stage of action, its work and ac-
cumulations will abide among the most
cherished possessions of the Kansans who
are to be.-Atchison Champion.